Natural disasters—wildfires, floods, tornadoes, and others—seemingly have become everyday occurrences we watch on the news with a tinge of anxiety. We wonder “What we would do in an emergency?” But we don’t need to be paralyzed by fear; we need to be prepared and that’s where a go-bag can give us some peace of mind.
Packing a go bag is essential for disaster preparedness. Everyone in your family should have their own Go Bag that contains 72 hours’ worth of essential supplies. Here are important items to include:
The bag. AARP Magazine advises that “your carryall must be large and sturdy enough to hold the essentials and small enough to grab on the run. A backpack is a great option, if you’re not able to carry a heavy bag,” Another convenient option is a duffel bag on wheels.
Food and water.
A go bag should have enough food and water for at least three days.
For food, FAACT (The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team) recommends lightweight nutrient dense foods and that you “choose items that are easy to prepare and don't require cooking or refrigeration, such as canned goods, energy bars, and dried fruits.” Other good food choices for a go bag include dry cereal or granola, crackers, peanut butter, and canned juices.
For water you should have one gallon per day per person. The government of British Columbia advises that “you should keep it in its original container in a cool and dark place that's easy to reach.
You should not:
- Open the water until you need it
- Use water that's past the expiry or "best before" date printed on the bottle
- Use water from toilet tanks or bowls, radiators, waterbeds, swimming pools or spas.”
Personal essentials. Add to your bag personal hygiene products like a toothbrush and toothpaste, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and sanitary products. Buy travel-sized toiletries to save space. And of course, a first aid kit is a necessity. Make provisions to have needed medications on hand—at least enough for seven days. Pack a change of clothing, including a warm, waterproof layer, as well as an extra pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Emergency supplies. National Public Radio (NPR) reports “as you look through different go bag checklists, you'll see a wide range of supplies like work gloves or plastic sheeting. At the very least…your bag should contain the following items: a multi-tool or knife; paracord or rope for, say, pitching a tent; duct tape for making repairs; a flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries; and something with which to start a fire.”
Paperwork. “Make photocopies of essential documents, including passports; birth certificates; driver’s licenses; Social Security and Medicare cards; marriage, adoption and naturalization certificates; title or lease documents; insurance paperwork; and credit and debit card information,” AARP Magazine says. “Make sure to store these in a waterproof, zip-top bag. You can also upload insurance information and family photos to a digital vault. Just make sure you have a copy of your log in and password information.
Cash. “During disasters, the loss of electrical power is common,” Fortune Magazine notes. “Credit cards and ATMs are rendered temporarily useless. Keeping a supply of cold, hard cash in your go bag will make sure you can buy what you need if electronic systems are unavailable. Choose an amount based on the number of people you need to provide for; a single person won’t need to stash away much in comparison to a family of six.”
What else? For a detailed list of additional items to consider for your family’s go-bags read the Red Cross’ article What Do You Need in a Survival Kit?
Of course, you hope that you never have to break out your go-bag and it may be years before an emergency requiring your bag occurs. Therefore, it is important to remember that this not a “one and done” deal. Annually check your bag for expiration dates and replace items as necessary.
Preparing a go-bag will require a bit of time, energy, and some money, but the payoff is peace of mind.
